Shoe and foot saver



Dec. 30, 1941. v ZUCKER SHOE A-ND FOOT' SAVER Filed June 30, 1941 Enventor VICTOR ZUCKER.

- (Ittorneg Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE AND FOOT SAVER Victor Zucker, Omaha, Nebr.

Application June 30, 1941, Serial No. 400,379

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to workmens shoes and has for an object to provide means for protecting said shoes and the forward portions of workmens feet for not only preventing undue wear on said shoes but also to protect the insteps and toes of workmen at times when, resultant from accident, a comparatively heavy object is dropped toward the instep or toe of a shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the above stated purposes which is so constructed that an entrance of debris, sand and the like is prevented at times when the protective device is in use upon a workmans shoe and foot.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device so constructed that the instep, toe and sides of a workmans shoe is prevented from contact with said device during use whereby a shoe of ornate appearance may be worn during working hours without the necessity, as heretofore, of a workman changin his shoes upon arrival at work.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device for use with shoes equipped with rubber heels and having a rubber outsole whereby the new device may be worn advantageously during work in munition factories and noiselessly.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the new device applied to a shoe in a position of use.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the new device, said shoe being omitted.

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof, a certain strap and buckle preferably employed not being shown.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section, the view being taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, In indicates generally a workman's shoe of semi-ornate appearance havi ing a sole l2, heel l4, rubber heel cap l5, instep I6 and toe 18f The new device includes a housin made primarily and preferably of steel shaped complemental to and for receiving therein the forward portion of the shoe ill. The housing includes a sol portion 2B, a toe portion 22, an instep portion 24 and an extended portion 25 of said sole portion. said extension projecting further rearwardly and towards the heel M of the shoe H],

in use, than said instep portion 24, as best shown in Figure 2.

The housing may be formed integral of pressed steel or said housing may be spun in approximately the form of a frustrated cone and later crushed to said complemental shape by means of die press operations.

The new device further includes a rubber outsole 26 secured by any suitable means such as cement or the like to the bottom of the sole portion 20 of the housing.

Also said sole portion 20 may be made separate from the other portions of the device and attached to said other portions by any suitable means.

A rubber shim or strip 28, preferably formed of sponge rubber, isvertically disposed, against the inner sides of the side walls 2'! of the new device adjacent the sole 20 thereof, said shim or strip 28 having a portion 29 which is arcuate in plan disposed around and within the toe portion of the housing, as best shown in Figure 2, for purposes later described. The strip 28 together with a later mentioned strip and portions of said strips are secured to the housing preferably by means of a suitable cement.

The new device further includes a second rubber strip 30 disposed, as best shown in Figure 4, within and against each side wall of the housing adjacent the mouth 34 of the latter, said strip 30 having a portion 32 disposed against and across the inner surface of the instep portion 24 of the housing for purposes later described.

The strip 30 may be formed integral, if desired, with the shim or strip 28, said strip 30 being preferably thicker than the shim or strip 28.

Either one or both of said strips may be formed integral with a third rubber strip 46 which, as best shown in Figure 3, is substantially arcuate in plan, having ends 41 extending from the members 30 and 28 across the extended portion 25 of the sole 20 of the new device as best shown in Figure 2.

The instep portion 24 of the housing is upturned as at36 whereby free bending movements of the forward portion of the shoe I 0 are permitted during walking movements and at times when the said shoe and new device are upon a workmans foot in use.

Means are provided for removablyattaching the new device in a position of use upon the shoe, said means preferably including a pair of oppositely disposed cars 38, which preferably are made of metal and spot welded to the side walls 21 of the new device adjacent the instep portion thereof and in instances where said ears are formed of flexible material, said ears are secured by means of rivets, not shown, in the said position asshown inr'igure v8.

Each ear includes an apertured portion 4. for receiving through saidapertures the looped ends ll of oppositely disposed straps 42. The free end of one of said straps is provided with a buckle l3 :and the other said strap is provided with spaced apart apertures 44 whereby the new device may be secured, .as shown inFigure 1, to the shoe Ill.

Referring to Figure 1 it will be understood that, as indicated by the dotted lines, there is an appreciable distance between the inner surface of the new device and the toe ll of the shoe As thus described it will be understood that at times when the new device is in a position of use the bottom of the sole of the shoe III is snugly abutted against the rubber member N and the sides of said sole are abutted against the rubber member 2. and that the rubber member 30 together with the portion 32 of the latter are snugly abutted against and across the instep and sides of the shoe whereby debris is prevented from entering the interior of the housing during use and the edges of the sole of the .shoe are preventedfrom contact with said housing and, therefore, prevented from becoming scufled and roughened during use.

In operation bending movements of the shoe ll adjacent the ball of a user's foot are permitted, said sponge rubber facilitating the same while at the same time the forward portion of the shoe is enclosed within the housing of the new device duringsaid bending.

.of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as claimed.

I claim: 1. A shoe and foot saver comprising a metallic housing having an instep-toe portion and a sole portion, means for securing said housing about the forward portion and over the instep and toe of said shoe, said sole portion having an extension disposed further toward the heel of said shoe than said instep portion, a rubber strip disposed across said instep portion and extending to said sole portion at each side of and within .said housing, said strip having a portion disposed across said extension .of said sole portion for preventing debris from entering said housing during use, and a second rubber strip disposed around the toe portion and at each side of and within said housing adjacent said sole portion for preventing contact of the edges of the sole of said shoe with said housing.

2. A shoe andfoot saver as described in claim 1 which further includes a rubber outsole secured to the outer side of the sole portion thereof.

VICTOR zucm. 

